Electric water-level indicator.



E. E. FIESELER. ELECTRIC WATER LEVEL INDICATOR.

- APPLIGATIOH FILED MAR. 13, 1911.

1,005,1'1. 1. Patented 0013.3,1911.

WITNESSES UNITED. STAILES ragrnn r oration,

EDWARD E. FIESELER, 0F EASTPOET, MARYLAND, A$SIGNOR 0Z5 ONE-HALF TO ADAME1.

EVIABTAK, O1 EASTPGEI, MARYLAND.

:ELECTBIG WATER-LEVEL INDICATGR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enwaiin E. Fineness, a citizen of the United States,residing at Eastport, in the county of Anne Arundel and State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricWatenLevel Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved electric water level indicator andhas particular reference to an improved device for indicating the levelof water in tanks.

The object of the invention is to provide a tank with an improvedconstruction of Water level indicator so that the approximate depth ofwater may be determined at a point re-- mote from the tank and a signalmay be sounded as the various levels of Water in the tank are reached. V

The invention consists in the novel construction, combination andarrangement of devices hereinafter set forth in. the claims, and theaccompanying drawing illustrates its application.

Figure l, of the drawing shows an exterior elevation of a tank embodyingthe features of the invention and also shows the indicator and alarmdevices and a diagram matic arrangement of electrical connection betweenthem. Fig. 2 shows a vertical sectional detail through thewall oi thetank and also showsthe terminals and the float for closing the circuitthrough the latter. Fig. 3, is a top plan view of a portion oithe tankdirectly over the terminals and float, and Fig. 4:, is an enlargedsectional detail showing the manner of securing the terminals in thetank wall.

Referring to the drawing the numeral, 1, designates a tank which may beconstructed of wood, metal, concrete or any suitable material but whichis shown as formed of wood, and in .the presentinstance has a pluralityof encircling hoops, 2, whose ends are held by suitable devices, 3, thatare well-known to the trade and therefore not shown in detail. The tankis provided with a plurality of stems that extend through the wallthereof from the outer t0 the inner side and said stems are arranged inspaced-apart pairs with one pair above another. In the form shown thetank has five pairs of stems desig- Spccification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed March 13, 1911.

Patented 0st. strain.

Serial No. 614,177.

specti.vely,the pair of stems, 4, being the.

each pair of stems may form terminals of an electric circuit as willpresently be more fully described.

By referring to 4, it will be seen that each stem or terminal has anenlarged outer end, 9; a collar, 10, and a'reduced inner end, 11, whichis circular in cross-section. Suit able insulating material, 12, isprovided between the stem and the tank so as to insulate the stems fromeach other and also from the wall in case the latter is of amaterialthat is a conductor of electrical current. A binding post, 13,screws into. the outer enlarged end, 9, of the stem or terminal and anadjustable: contact head, 1%, is screwed into the reduced inner end, 11,of said stem. By preference the adjustable contact heads, 1 are beveledaround their edges for a purpose presently to be explained.

By referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it Will be seen that a guide bar, 15,which is squarein cross-section extends vertically in the tank in avertical plane between the spaced-apart pairs of stems or terminals,-thelower end of the bar having a lateral extension, 16, that rests upon andis secured to the bottom, 17, of the tank, and the upper end having ahorizontal extension, 18, with lateral flanges, 19, that are secured tothe tank wall above the stems or terminals. The guide bar, 15, is thusheld rigidlyin the tank and ex tends from a point above the highest pairof stems or terminals, 8, to apoint below the lowest pair of stems orterminals, 4. A float, 20, is sustainedon the guide bar, 1-5, and in thepresent instance this float has a passage extending therethrough fromthe upper to the lower side that conforms to the cross-sectional shapeand permits the'passage of the bar, 15, so that said float may movevertically on the bar and rise and fall with the water in the tank. Thefloat has a contact wall, 21, that is preferably formed of metal, butobviously any electrical conductor on the float that will simultaneouslybrush over the contactheads, 141, of the stems or terminal's' may beemployed.

In carrying out the invention I make use each pair ia M annunciciori'ncc'iianism,

of an known consti'ccti m W "b. may lie locz o at anyconvenient pointvlicrc it .i'llfly icmiii be under observation. OfiHCCESSlDlG and i.also prefer to imkc use of zz s ml (.icviw, 23 which 1 tie c to place i..9 or other device that controls t y of Victor to the tank as and fiiii-pom pi'cscntly ic he more fully d". in the proscni instance theminus mechanism ploys a. plurality Of'LlSllr'Ll characters ami theiisual pivotcd hands to coact therewith and as five pairs 0 i-c ojlsEuro employed.

timt hitter}, M is c, current and that one 53 0 is connected by a*vii'c', 26, 1th one terminal oi i t is electrically connected by Wircs,52?, mic. 2b, with one si lc of the lmttci'y "i"- ctlic; terminals ofcacn I 'c coimcctcd. by W ms 28. 29, 6 "1 iflfil 3, i'cspcctiv it' tlic(3.1111L11(l3- iiisni ii Li that the 1rccctuatcci to point i it?.oiiiccicci aid by this indicate at which tcrminai the ci. i'EkiS beenestab lisl'ici through the i c 33, cm 9116:; from. the ,l 1, andco'm'iccts in i; 3 st, ii,

lmifc cw" another re, 36,

and connects ,4"! I 1 M. point point is lccatcd at any (lcsii'c 11y Hoartho pump) or oi.

ii SFfply to the tank. is controlled so as to s not .dl'll} "itcl'i timcthe circuit is closccl tl'izou iii of terminals 2116 one post ofctriczilly connect l to but-- tcW 3 Wire A. return post the bcll ciiply'tlic filling (111i. 11.311115 pump or '1"? supply will operate asfol- 20, will niovc upwardly iJQCF'St: it will rcuiuin on the contac.-heads, cacg pal: oi; ter- *(i thus close tho circuit by fcrni- 21mlcoosaid terminal 11 xls. 18y this means tho-c rcuit 'tlirccgh tiicrcspcctivo aii'soi" terminals will be successively closed as the liquid.level in tho tank rises and tho iiilhuncltll'fli hands; for each pairterminals \vil lac actuated as float closes the circuit through thelatter, thereby indicating tlic height of liquid in the Uinkf If theliquid in ii 1 rank has fallen so tiiattlic level will be sonicwhembetween the terminals, i, :inci, 5,2211. attendant will be iiiiori'ncclof "this fact by examining the anmmcitor because the hoods will liavcbeen zictimtccl as tlic float moves down on the sul'fiicc oi"tliewviitcr. it will 21150 is known to person who is to again .iiil tlictank that when bell, scuncls, after the filling operation has bccnstafcted that the liquid. will have raises the, float to terminals 5,,and then upon scuncling agi'iii'i the float lhcvc 121Cl16(l tlic'tcimiinals, (5 and so on until the tank is practically full, When. thefill 3 operation will be discontinued.

.i am aware of the fact that Water is supposed to be a. conductor ofelectricity and While this may be true in many instances I have found byactual practicc of the apparatus herein. shown that water clocs iiot iiithis case conduct the current from cnc set of terminals to another orfrom one terminal of a pail to thc other terminal of the same pair ofterminals and that with the appw lotus shown the operation is preciselyas doscribcd and that the annunciatcr and signal devices are notoperated until the float forms the contacts between the terminals.

i-Iaving thus described my invention What I claim and desire to secureby Letters In an electric liquid lcvcl indicator the combination with athink, of a plurality of electric terminals extending through the wallof the tank and. GXPOSQtl on the interior of the l2IiiLl'Q1,--Siutltci'n'iinzils having positions in different horizontal planes betweentho bottom and top of the tank; an conunhaving an indicator for eachterminal electrical connectionsbetween tho respective terminals and"their respective a rod cxtcnclii'ig vex? zmnuiiciiitoi' indicatorslilCtlll'f/ within the molt; a float movable on said rod and. parallelwith H plane passing tln'cugli 'tlic cntls of the terminals; a battery;connections between. tlic 6.1111UZ1Cl21- tor and 0110 side of thc 521ibattery aml co1iiiccti 011s; bot-Ween the other side of clicbattery and.tlic tlozi t.

2. in an electric liquid. level indicato'i the combination with 2 tank,of a plurality of electric iici'miiiais czitemiing through tlic Wail ofthe tank'in spaced-apart pairs and the terminals of one pair beingexpcsedon the interior of the tank in i horizontal plane above the tciminzils of another pair; 21 P061 (Hit/Gliding "vertically in. the tankbetween thespacccl-apaic, pairs of terminals; 21, float on saicl rodand; having a Contact to engage the tions between bhe other side of thebattery I spaced-apart ends of a pair of terminals at a time; a battery;connections between one side of the battery and one terminal of eachpair of terminals; anannuncietor having an indicator for each pair ofterminals; :1 con.- neetion between a pair, of terminals and itsindicafor of the annunciator; and connecand the annunciator mechanism.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of. t'woWitnesses.

' EDWARDE. FIESELER, Witnesses: v

CHARLES B. MANN, Jr, Gr. FEED. VOGT,

